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January 21, 2006
Blogosphere Spreads Eminent Domain Hoax
This past week, National Review Online posted a story about an alleged case of the misuse of eminent domain. Heather Wilhelm, the story's author, wrote the following:
For seven years, Reverend Roosevelt Gildon has preached the gospel at the Centennial Baptist Church in Sand Springs, Oklahoma. His congregation, around 50 strong, is like a small family. The elderly members, and those without cars, often walk to Sunday services.
“Rosey,” as his friends call him, figured he’d go on preaching in the tidy steel structure for years to come. That was, until the government told him they were taking his church away.
. . . The town of Sand Springs, Oklahoma, has plans to take Centennial Baptist — along with two other churches, several businesses, dozens of small homes, and a school — and replace them with a new “super center,” rumored to include a Home Depot.
. . . What’s most egregious about this application of eminent domain is that there’s already plenty of room for development, even if the pesky church sticks around.
This story was featured at Right Wing News under the title "Kelo Vs. Churches".
There is a problem with the NRO story - it makes a false claim. The city of Sand Springs isn't trying to use eminent domain to seize church property.
Here is the beginning of a story published by the Tulsa World:
SAND SPRINGS -- A church that lies in the path of Sand Springs' proposed Keystone Corridor redevelopment project is being cited nationally as an example of government flexing its power of eminent domain to take property for private commercial use.
But there's a problem with the National Review Online's assertions, city officials said: The city hasn't filed any condemnation action against Centennial Baptist Church, nor does it intend to.
"There's no eminent domain action going on against any properties there," City Manager Loy Calhoun said. "No actions, no intents -- nothing like that's been done in the area."
According to the city manager, "no specific businesses have been selected to build in the vacated area." Furthermore, National Review Online didn't contact the Sand Springs goverment prior to posting its story. Thus, the city wasn't given a chance to refute the eminent domain claim made in the story.
If you want more information about this story, then you can contact Tulsa World reporter Louise Red Corn at 1-918-581-8480 or at louise.redcorn@tulsaworld.com .
Folks, this story pertains to a larger plan involving all communities within Tulsa County, which is where I live.
Let me fill you in on a little detail about my little corner of the world.
Sand Springs is a bedroom community of Tulsa, the buckle of the Bible Belt. If the city of Sand Springs were to try to seize church property through eminent domain, the resulting uproar would be so great, that any elected public official involved would be voted out of office.
There is already a movement in Oklahoma to restrict the use of eminent domain. This issue will most likely be a hot topic during the 2006 session of the state legislature, which begins February 6th and ends May 26th.
Oklahoma lawmakers don't need a hoax to prompt them to protect the property rights of Oklahoma residents.
Posted by Dodo David at January 21, 2006 03:04 PM
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Comments
WOW! Good find! Laura Ingraham had this on her show and it sounded like the really wanted to take this church. I will keep a close eye on the story.
Posted by: aaron at January 21, 2006 05:55 PM
I followed the website cited int the article and it looks like b.s. The author seems to belong to a political organization she cites.
Posted by: paul at January 22, 2006 10:04 AM
I'm not ready to let go of this based on what I found by looking at Google Maps, investigating Vision 2025, etc., but I am open to instruction on why I'm wrong:
Kelo Update: Now It's Churches, Too
http://www.bizzyblog.com/?p=1273
I also want to know if the Rev was misquoted, or just doesn't understand what's what.
I trusted NRO to vet the piece. I hope that wasn't misplaced.
Tom Blumer
BizzyBlog.com
Posted by: Thomas Blumer at January 22, 2006 01:13 PM
C'mon, Vision 2025 is a fraud hoax site, albeit very elaborate. Everything is based from there. Take a closer look at it. I
Posted by: paul at January 23, 2006 10:26 AM
I just received an e-mail from Ms. Redcorn that said this, in full:
i am unclear on what you want from me. Clarification about what? I can tell you that no eminent domain action has been filed against that church (or against two other churches and a host of houses and businesses), though it is certainly understood that the city of determined to get the church property. and I believe that the O'Reilly Auto Parts store is actually slated for demolition.
I have utterly no control over our website and how stories are released. Sorry about that. I am not fond of subscription sites myself, but the higher ups here take their copyright very seriously.
Her response actually supports a claim that MORE THAN ONE church is in the way of the development. The original article in NRO only said that the city "has plans" to take Centennial Baptist Church.
I fail to see where the "hoax" is, though I haven't heard from the NRO article author Heather yet, who I did e-mail.
Tom Blumer
BizzyBlog.com
Posted by: Thomas Blumer at January 23, 2006 11:14 AM
Hoax, schmoax:
Kelo Sands Springs Update: Double-Speak Obscures the Ugly Truth
http://www.bizzyblog.com/?p=1308
Posted by: Thomas Blumer at January 23, 2006 12:47 PM
Clearly, you lack an eye for truth.
The site is an obvious put on.
Posted by: paul at January 24, 2006 04:14 PM
Clearly, you lack an eye for truth.
The site is an obvious put on.
Posted by: paul at January 24, 2006 04:22 PM
I am the Public Information Manager for PMg the private company engaged as program manager for the entire Vision 2025 public building program. The site http://www.Vision2025.info is produced by us at the direction of the Tulsa County Commissioners as a public outreach to provide transparency for the program. We have web cams on several projects, the site is extensive in detail as are several of the print program updates mailed throughout Tulsa County. Right or left, all citizens want government expenditures to be transparent and we believe that as a result of our effort, Vision 2025 is the most transparent infrastructure development program in the history of Oklahoma. You can read the ballot questions, the legal propositions supporting the ballot, the history of the project list development and more "stuff" that most would care to review. We post project bid notices. We update all projects monthly and individual project news as it becomes available. www.Vision2025.info is about as official as any site can get. Feel free to e-mail me with question on any program or use the contact form provided on site.
Posted by: David Arnett at January 25, 2006 01:27 PM
Uh, no it's not, and add the NY Time and Hannity & Colmes to those reporting on and following this story:
Kelo Sand Springs Church-Taking Update
http://www.bizzyblog.com/?p=1326
Posted by: Thomas Blumer at January 25, 2006 02:33 PM